Attacks on the Press in 2011 - Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory

Committee to Protect Journalists, Attacks on the Press in 2011 - Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, 22 February 2012, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/4f4cc98828.html [accessed 4 March 2015]

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Hamas forces in Gaza cracked down on journalists covering March demonstrations that called for Palestinian unity. Local journalists were attacked, media bureaus raided, and journalistic material confiscated. In April, three photographers were assaulted in the West Bank while covering skirmishes between Palestinians and Israeli settlers in a village south of Nablus. In May, an Israeli soldier shot and seriously wounded Palestinian photographer Mohammed Othman, who was covering clashes between the Israeli military and Palestinians near the Erez Crossing. New legal restrictions were introduced: In July, the Israeli parliament passed an "anti-boycott" law making it a civil offense to support any boycott, divestment, or sanction campaign aimed at Israel based on its Palestinian policies. Journalists could face legal action for even insinuating support of a boycott. Hamas, meanwhile, adopted a new requirement that international journalists obtain Interior Ministry permission before entering Gaza, news reports said. Israeli authorities were holding four Palestinian journalists without charge in late year; Hamas was imprisoning three others, also without charge.

[Refworld note: The sections that follow represent a best effort to transcribe onto a single page information that appears in tabs on the CPJ's own pages, which also include a number of graphics not readily reproducible here. Refworld researchers are therefore strongly recommended to check against the original report: Attacks on the Press in 2011.]

Flotilla detentions: 5

Israeli forces boarded two ships carrying aid bound for Gaza in November. Among the 27 detentions were journalists Hassan Ghani, a correspondent for Iran's Press TV; Lina Attallah, of

Assaulted by Hamas in March: 11

Local and foreign journalists covering demonstrations in Gaza calling for political reconciliation between Palestinian factions were attacked on three separate days in March by Hamas security forces, CPJ research shows.

Newsrooms attacked by Hamas: 3

Security forces targeted international news outlets in reprisal for their coverage of a March demonstration in Gaza calling for Palestinian national unity, CPJ research shows.

Three outlets under attack:

Reuters: Television, computer equipment smashed

CNN: Searched by agents seeking footage of the demonstration

NHK: Video footage seized from the Japanese news channel

Groups protesting anti-boycott law: 7

In a move likely to restrict news coverage and commentary, the Israeli parliament passed an "anti-boycott" law in July, making it a civil offense to support any economic, cultural, or academic boycott of Israel, Israeli settlements, or Israeli institutions. Violators were subject to civil lawsuit and fines. The measure generated criticism from several domestic groups, the BBC reported.

Israeli groups speaking out:

The Association for Civil Rights in IsraelGush ShalomAdalahPhysicians for Human Rights IsraelPublic Committee against TortureCoalition of Women for PeacePeace Now

Imprisoned on December 1, 2011: 7

Imprisonments reached the highest level in more than a decade, as both Israeli and Hamas authorities jailed journalists without charge.